70,000 people attend emotional service<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): Seventy thousand people from all five
\nrecognized religions attended an emotional service here yesterday
\nto pray for the nation's survival amid the economic turmoil.<\/p>\n
Moslems, Christians, Protestants, Buddhists and Hindus,
\naccompanied by their respective religious leaders, flocked to the
\nDiponegoro Regional Military Command's parade ground for this
\nrare event.<\/p>\n
Visiting Minister of Defense and Security\/Armed Forces
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo H.S.
\nalso attended.<\/p>\n
During the one-hour gathering, the devotees asked for help to
\nswiftly lift the ailing country out of the ongoing economic
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
The country has been hit by a severe crisis since last July
\nfollowing the drastic depreciation of the rupiah against the
\nAmerican dollar.<\/p>\n
The service were led by noted Moslem leader Cholil Bisri from
\nthe Raudhatul Thalibien Islamic boarding school in Rembang,
\nCentral Java.<\/p>\n
Cholil, who is also one of the leaders of the 30 million
\nstrong Nahdlatul Ulama Moslem organization, said in his message
\nthat people from different ethnicities and religions should unite
\nto face this prolonged ordeal.<\/p>\n
\"After this service, we should throw away our suspicions and
\nunite to weather this economic hardship,\" Cholil said.<\/p>\n
Wiranto called on the public yesterday to support and trust
\nthe government to implement the necessary steps to guide the
\nnation through the crisis. (har\/byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/70000-people-attend-emotional-service-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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